Leh, Nov.22 (ANI): Come winter and authorities in Ladakh district
of Jammu and Kashmir have to ensure that there is ample procurement and
stock of foodstuff and other essential commodities since the region will
remain cut off from the rest of the mainland due to heavy snowfall on
the approach links.

Thus prior to the onset of the winter, stocking of food material is
a common activity in Ladakh as the Srinagar-Leh through the Zojila Pass
and Manali-Leh via the Rohtang Pass highways are closed to vehicular
traffic for over five months.

On an average, the snowfall is in the range of 20 to 30 feet.

With the snowbound areas being completely cut-off, the prevailing
conditions here make it necessary to stock food for at least six months
for everyone.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is the nodal agency stocking
and distributing food grains.

"It is important to do stocking of food for more than six
months because, Ladakh is such an area that is completely cut-off for
more than six months. And the material is supplied by us to two
agencies, the PDS (public distribution system) and the defence,"
said Shakil Ahmad, in-charge, FCI, Leh.

According to the local administration, basic food materials like
sugar, rice, wheat flour and kerosene are procured in advance and
stocked in godowns supply to the people through the public distribution
system.

"Essential commodities are mostly stocked in the main godown
in the FCI (Food Corporation of India) like rice and sugar. Kerosene is
stored in the IOC (Indian Oil Corporation). We lift the stocks according
to the requirement in Leh and surrounding areas and by the release
orders given by the government. But there are few snow-bound areas which
are cut-off for four to six months even from Leh, so there we try to do
advance stocking," noted Ruth Mary, Assistant Director, Consumer
Affairs and Public Distribution, Leh.

On their part, the locals in Leh and other places of Ladakh gear up
themselves well in advance before the onset of winter.

"We are already mentally prepared and we prepare ourselves by
stocking kerosene, cow dung cakes (as fuel) and wood, and the rest we
get from the government," said Bilal Ahmad, a local.

Better known as the Little Tibet, Ladakh is famous for its
enchanting nature of roaring rivers, daunting gorges, snowy
mountaintops, unique wildlife and numerous historical Buddhist
monasteries. By Jigmet Angchuk (ANI)

Copyright 2009 Asian News International (ANI) - All Rights
Reserved.

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

COPYRIGHT 2009 Al Bawaba (Middle East) Ltd.
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.